NZ musicians storm British pop charts

By REBECCA BARRY

New Zealand music has scaled new heights with four local acts making it into the British charts simultaneously.

Steriogram's Walkie Talkie Man debuted in the official UK Top 20 singles chart at number 19, ahead of New Zealand-born pop singer Daniel Bedingfield, whose song Nothing Hurts Like Love is at 23 (down 12 from the previous week.)

Meanwhile the Finn Brothers' Nothing Wrong With You debuted in the charts at number 31 and DJ Greg Churchill's Trash/Plutonic moved up seven places in the UK Dance Chart to 32.

EMI label manager Morgan Donaghue, whose record company represents Steriogram and the Finn Brothers in New Zealand, said the timing made the chart success particularly significant, as more music was released before Christmas than at any other time of the year.

He said a TV campaign for Apple iPOD featuring Steriogram's Walkie Talkie Man and a music video made by acclaimed director Michel Gondry had provided crucial exposure. The song was also the eighth most downloaded single on the Official Download Chart.

Steriogram guitarist Brad Carter said from London he was surprised to have made it into the British charts at all.

"It's crazy right now with all the big bands that are coming out," he said.

"I think we're the only rock band apart from U2 on the Top 20 right now."

Steriogram arrived in London three weeks ago. The West Auckland band left New Zealand after signing a seven-figure, five-album record deal with Capitol Records.